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Cold Sore - Treatment And Home Remedies

Cold sores are a very common illness caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

The disorder is characterized by groups of fluid-filled blisters which appear on red swollen areas of the skin or on the mucous membranes. The areas can be tender and painful. The blisters heal without scarring but have a tendency to recur.

There are two main types of herpes simplex virus (HSV), although there is considerable overlap.

• Type 1, which is mainly associated with facial infections (cold sores or fever blisters)
• Type 2, which is mainly genital ( genital herpes )

Causes

Infection from the herpes simplex virus. The virus is transmitted through seliva, stools, urine or eye discharge from the infected eye of someone with active herpes. Most persons are exposed to the virus in childhood. The virus remains in the body indefinitely, becoming active occasionally and causing an outbreak of blister. The following can trigger flare-ups:

• Injury to the skin from friction with clothing or protective gear.
• Previous eczema.
• Physical or emotional stress.
• Illness or excessive exercise that has lowered resistance.
• Excess sun exposure.
• Use of immunosuppressive drugs.
• Menstrual period.

Signs and symptoms

• Eruption of very small, painful blisters that are grouped together and surrounded by a red ring. They fill with fluid, then dry up and disappear.
• Pain or tingling, called the prodrome, often precedes the blisters by one to two days

Cold sores usually appear on your lips. Occasionally, they occur on your nostrils, chin or fingers. And, although it's unusual, they may occur inside your mouth - but only on your gums or hard palate, which is the roof of your mouth. If the sore appears on other soft tissues inside your mouth, it may be a canker sore, but it's not a cold sore.

Diagnosis

The appearance of cold sores is usually enough to diagnose them. The presence of the virus may sometimes be confirmed through laboratory analysis of a blood sample, or a sample of the fluid scraped from an active sore.

Treatment

Home remedies to get rid cold sore

• Drink cool liquids or suck frozen juice bars.
• Apply an ice cube for 1 hour during the first 24 hours after a lesion appears. This may make it heal more quickly.
• Apply a tea bag for five to ten minutes each hour at the start of the cold sores. The tannic acid in the tea has antiviral properties. This will prevent their further development.
• Don't rub or scratch an infected eye.
• Taking B complex supplements with B12 vitamin and folic acid is helpful.
• Aloe When the tingling starts, try rubbing juice from an aloe plant on the affected area. If you are traveling, take a bottle of aloe gel with you just in case a sore begins. This remedy is especially effective if used at the first sign of a cold sore, but will also stop it later on, too, and will begin the healing process immediately and keep the sore from "blossoming."
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has antiviral properties. In a research study conducted in hospitals and dermatology clinics in Germany, lemon balm cream promoted the healing of blisters in 5 days compared to 10 days in the control group. Used on regularly, lemon balm cream may decrease the frequency of recurrences.
• Apply spirit of camphor on the sore.

Medication

Acyclovir (Zovirax) is the drug of choice for herpes infection and can be given intravenously or taken by mouth. It can be applied directly to sores as an ointment, but is not very useful in this form. A liquid form for children is also available. Acyclovir is effective in treating both the primary infection and recurrent outbreaks. When taken by mouth to prevent an outbreak, acyclovir reduces the frequency of herpes outbreaks.

Drying medications such as Campho-Phenique, tincture of benzoin or benzoyl peroxide 5-10% for lesions close to the lip.

Prevention

• Avoid physical contact with others who have active lesions.
• Avoid touching cold sores. Squeezing, picking, or pinching blisters can allow the virus to spread to other parts of the lips or face and infect those sites.
• Wear gloves when applying ointment to a child's sore.
• Avoid excess direct exposure to sun. Use zinc oxide or a sunscreen on your lips.
• To avoid spreading the virus to others:

Wash your hands often during a flare-up. Avoid wrestling, judo, boxing and other sports involving physical contact until lesions heal.